First Aider Responsibilities and Duties at Work
26 October 2026 · 5 min read · Amber Training
Reviewed for accuracy by a qualified Amber Training first aid trainer.
A workplace first aider is responsible for giving immediate first aid to anyone who is injured or taken ill at work, within the limits of their training, until medical help arrives or the person recovers. That means keeping themselves and others safe, calling or arranging a 999 call when it is needed, treating what they are trained to treat and handing over clearly to the ambulance crew. Most employers also give first aiders a few routine duties, such as recording incidents and keeping the first aid kit stocked. The legal duty to provide first aid, though, sits with the employer, not with the first aider.
This guide sets out what a first aider does, what falls outside the role, and what the employer must put in place so first aiders can do their job.
What a first aider does in an emergency
When someone is hurt or taken ill, a first aider's duties follow the same order every time, whichever course they trained on:
- Make the situation safe. Check for danger to themselves, bystanders and the casualty before going any closer. A first aider who becomes a second casualty helps nobody.
- Assess the casualty. Find out whether the person is responsive and breathing normally, and what has happened.
- Get help. Call 999, or ask someone else to call while they stay with the casualty, and send someone for the first aid kit and the defibrillator if there is one.
- Give first aid within their training. For example CPR and defibrillator use, the recovery position, controlling bleeding, treating choking, or dealing with minor cuts and burns.
- Stay with the casualty. Monitor them until the ambulance arrives, the person recovers or they are passed to someone with more training.
- Hand over and record. Tell the paramedics what happened and what was done, then record the incident.
Routine duties most employers give first aiders
None of these is set out word for word in the law, but they are common sense and most first aid policies include them:
- Checking and restocking first aid kits, or reporting used and missing items to whoever looks after them. Our first aid kit checklist includes a monthly inspection log.
- Knowing where the equipment is, including every kit, any eye wash stations and the defibrillator.
- Recording incidents they deal with. HSE describes a record of incidents attended by first aiders as good practice. Our free accident report form captures the details and checks whether an incident needs reporting under RIDDOR.
- Telling their manager when they will be away, so cover can be arranged.
- Keeping their certificate in date and taking part in refresher training.
What is outside a first aider's role
Being clear about the limits protects both the first aider and the casualty.
- Diagnosing or treating beyond their training. A first aider gives first aid, not medical care. If in doubt, they call 999 or advise the person to seek medical help.
- Giving tablets or medicines. HSE's guidance says first aid at work does not include giving tablets or medicines to treat illness. The exception it describes is aspirin for a suspected heart attack, given in line with accepted first aid practice.
- Deciding the company's first aid provision. How many first aiders you need, which course they take and where the kits go are the employer's decisions, made through a first aid needs assessment.
- Being on duty when they are not at work. A first aider who is on holiday, off sick or working from home does not count towards your cover that day.
What the employer must provide
Under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, the employer must provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities and people, and tell employees what the arrangements are. For first aiders, that means:
- Suitable training. The one-day Emergency First Aid at Work course for lower-risk workplaces, or the three-day First Aid at Work course where the needs assessment calls for it.
- Time to train and requalify. Certificates last three years. First Aid at Work is renewed with the two-day First Aid at Work Requalification before expiry; Emergency First Aid at Work is renewed by retaking the one-day course.
- Enough first aiders to cover absences. Holidays, sickness, shifts and hybrid working all leave gaps. The first aid needs calculator works out a starting figure.
- Equipment. Stocked kits, and anything else the assessment identifies.
- Information for staff. Everyone needs to know who the first aiders are and where to find the kit. A first aid notice by each kit is the simplest way to do it.
Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work: what each first aider can deal with
| Emergency First Aid at Work (1 day) | First Aid at Work (3 days) | |
|---|---|---|
| CPR and defibrillator use | Yes | Yes |
| Unresponsive casualty, including seizures | Yes | Yes |
| Choking, bleeding, shock and minor injuries | Yes | Yes |
| Fractures, head, spinal and chest injuries | No | Yes |
| Serious burns and scalds, eye injuries and poisoning | No | Yes |
| Heart attack, stroke, asthma, diabetic emergencies, anaphylaxis and epilepsy | No | Yes |
A first aider's duties are the same on both courses. What differs is the range of injuries and illnesses they are trained to deal with. Our guide to Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work explains which your workplace needs.
Choosing your first aiders
The best first aiders are people who are on site most of the time, stay calm under pressure and are willing to take on the role. Ask for volunteers, spread them across floors, shifts and departments, and train more than the bare minimum so cover never depends on one person.
Train your first aiders on-site
We deliver in-house first aid training at your venue, anywhere in England. Emergency First Aid at Work is £550 per session for up to 12 staff, including trainer, equipment, certificates and travel. Travel within London and the surrounding counties is included; elsewhere in England, travel is confirmed with the agreement. Every delegate who passes receives an Ofqual-regulated FAA Level 3 Award, issued through Nuco Training.
Book training. No payment until your booking is confirmed. Confirmation by email within one working day.
This article is general guidance, not legal advice. Base your provision on your own first aid needs assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What are the responsibilities of a first aider at work?
A workplace first aider gives immediate first aid to anyone injured or taken ill at work, within the limits of their training, makes sure the emergency services are called when needed and stays with the casualty until help arrives or they recover. Most employers also ask first aiders to record the incidents they attend, report used or missing kit items and keep their certificate in date.
Is the first aider legally responsible for first aid at work?
No. Under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 the duty to provide adequate and appropriate first aid sits with the employer. The employer decides how many first aiders are needed, trains them and tells staff the arrangements. The first aider's role is to act within the training they have received.
Can a first aider give paracetamol or other medicines?
HSE's guidance says first aid at work does not include giving tablets or medicines to treat illness. The one exception it describes is aspirin given to a casualty with a suspected heart attack, in line with accepted first aid practice.
Who is responsible for restocking the first aid kit?
The employer is responsible for providing a suitably stocked kit. In practice the job is given to a named person, often a first aider or the appointed person, who checks the kit regularly and restocks it after use.
Do first aiders have to record every treatment?
HSE guidance describes keeping a record of incidents that first aiders attend as good practice: the date, time and place, the casualty's name and job, the injury or illness, the treatment given, what happened next and the first aider's name. Accidents may also need recording in an accident book and, for some injuries, reporting to HSE under RIDDOR.
How long does a first aider's qualification last?
Three years. Emergency First Aid at Work and First Aid at Work certificates are both valid for three years, and HSE strongly recommends a short annual refresher in between.
Book Emergency First Aid at Work for your team
Emergency First Aid at Work: 1 day at your venue, £550 per session for up to 12 staff, including trainer, equipment, certificates and travel.
Ofqual-regulated certificates. No payment until your booking is confirmed. Confirmation by email within one working day. Private sessions for your team, not public courses.